Chapter 19

Akzeriuth was completely unrecognizable. The blanket of miasma that had settled over the city blocked out the sun that otherwise would have the city alight with the golden evening hues to which it was usually accustomed. Very little of that light made its way to the houses that dotted the cliff, and the haze it created made every step dangerous. With such poor visibility, it wouldn't take much to wander off the edge of a cliff and they could only wonder how many unfortunate people had already met their end in such a way before the miasma itself claimed their lives.

The populace wasn't fairing much better than the city itself. Streets were littered with emergency supplies, and with bodies. People sought to escape the miasma that had built up in their homes, only to find the streets just as suffocating. The sick were everywhere, intermingled among those that had already undertaken their eternal slumber, their children still sobbing in their lifeless arms.

It- It just couldn't be possible. How could things have gotten so bad? Luke stared in pure unadulterated shock at the devastation that lay before him. Only a few weeks ago, everything had been alive with hope and ambition. How did everything suddenly become this?

"Things are worse than I thought." Tear finally managed. "The miasma is thick. It has affected people a lot quicker than we had anticipated."

How could she be so calm like that? People were dying everywhere. Why were they even here? Why did they bother to come? What could they possibly do in the face of… of all this?

"Well then Luke?" Asch asked gently easily able to detect his sibling's distress. "What first?" This would be Luke's true test. They were all bothered by just how far Akzeriuth had fallen, but would Luke be able to deal with it and fulfill his role as ambassador?

Luke stood in silent hysteria, oblivious to everyone's attention that was suddenly on him. He just couldn't…

"Luke." Guy put a hand on Luke's shoulder.

"What…..what can we possibly do?" He said softly, fighting back the waves of despair that were overwhelming him. "There's too much… we can't… we can't do anything!"

"Luke!" Tear reprimanded him. "How could you say that?! What kind of message are you giving the citizens here? They're waiting for us to help them! We're their hope! And here you show up saying there's nothing we can do!"

"I know that! But-"

"We just have to do what we can." Asch tried to comfort Luke. "Even if it's just a little, we can still save more people then if we hadn't come at all."

"But…. I don't…." Luke trailed off.

"Okay. Tear, Natalia, can you see if you can rally up the sick and injured? Our first priority should be getting everyone out of the miasma. Only heal anyone enough for them to move, you'll need to save your strength. We can handle any more extensive healing after we get them out of here. Jade, Guy can each of you go with one of them and help them move people?" Asch took over.

"What about Van?" Tear inquired.

"He should be here already with the Kimlascan troops, but since we don't know what he's doing, we can't count on him for the time being. If you do come across him, find out what he's up to. It'll be wasted effort if we're working on something he has covered already."

"Alright." She confirmed.

"What about us?" Anise inquired.

"You and Ion are going to help me and Luke try and find anyone that isn't in the residential area. We'll split up: You and Ion can go together and check the upper working areas, I'll take some of the lower levels and Luke can check the middle levels."

"Okay!" Anise said with as much cheer as she could manage.

"We'll all meet back here in an hour and we'll decide where to go from there. We've only a few more hours of daylight, and this is going to be impossible once the sun sets."

Each of them with their allotted tasks, set off to work. Tear and Guy took the western residential areas while Natalia and Jade set off to the eastern one. Ion and Anise managed to track down one of the functioning lifts and began their search of the upper mining sections while Asch found his way to the lowest ones, leaving Luke alone to wander with his thoughts.

Luke had made it to the first tunnel before he came upon the sudden realization that he had let Asch out of his sight. If the state of the once peaceful mining town didn't already have him on edge, the sudden wave of worry for his sibling would have done just as well. How could he have been so stupid! He let Asch run off on his own. What if something were to happen to him?

Luke stopped wandering, closed his eyes and focused.

Where was Asch?

It was faint, much fainter than what he suspected Asch saw when he did the same, but he could sense Asch's presence at the back of his mind. He was talking to one of the watchman, showing him the safest route to take the workers to safety. Luke decided not to bother him. He was okay…for now.

Luke had debated several times as to whether or not he should warn Asch. At least let him know something was up, something was going to go wrong, that he might be in danger. But Luke would have to explain how he knew these things, and that was something he couldn't do. Even if it wasn't forbidden and Van hadn't asked him to keep it a secret; he couldn't be the one to tell Asch that he was going to die.

"Hey, can you help me over here?" A man from one of the nearby tunnels called out as soon as he saw Luke in the distance. The boy looked rather lost in thought, but unlike the most of the others in town, he still looked healthy and able.

Noticing the man, Luke ran over. "What's the matter?"

"I have a wife and two boys at home, but there are men still trapped in the mine. I can't leave them."

"Which mine is this?"

"Tunnel 14." He replied. "A whole group of workers went down in there and haven't come out. I'm getting worried; this was the tunnel the miasma first started coming out of, so it's especially thick down there."

"You go take care of your family, I'll go get my friends and we'll try and help the people stuck in the tunnel." Luke finally told the man after having contemplated it for a moment. He wouldn't be able to do this alone.

"Thank you." The man gratefully told Luke as he headed off towards the houses on the western edge of town.

Luke didn't find anyone else the rest of the way around, which gave him more than ample time to think, something that he just might have been better off not doing. His imagination enjoyed torturing him by providing the several thousand things that could possibly happen to Asch while he was wandering the empty streets. Eventually he made it back to where they had started and found everyone waiting, letting out a huge sigh of relief when he saw his brother among them.

"The eastern residents are all warned, they're in the process of evacuating. Several of the Kimlascan troops are assisting them." Natalia reported.

"Did you run into Master Van?" Luke inquired.

"No. We found several divisions of troops, but it seems that Dorian General Grants had gone off on his own to search through the mines." Natalia provided.

"Okay then now that the mines are evacuated-" Asch began to give the next round of directions when Luke cut him off.

"Asch, there are a bunch of workers still stuck in Tunnel 14. I wanted to help them but the miasma is supposedly pretty thick down there so I came for help."

"Yes, several of the women that I met also mentioned they had husbands trapped in Tunnel 14." Tear added.

Asch smiled. He was glad to see Luke had somewhat recovered from the state he had been in when they first arrived. "Alright, we'll head down to Tunnel 14 while everyone else is still gathering."

"Good job Luke." Asch said once everyone had left. "See you can do something."

"Yeah well, it's not like I did much."

"Don't be like that, it's better than if you hadn't been there. Now come on, we don't want to get separated from the others in this miasma."

"Yeah, I guess. I'll try to help out a bit more."

"There you go, just do whatever you can do, even if it's just a little. Now let's get going, those people need our help."

"Yeah, you're right. Let's go." Luke said as he walked off with his brother; holding back the words he really wanted to say.

Please be careful.

-----------

The 14th of Akzeriuth's mining tunnels was by far largest and deepest of the many mines that had been constructed over the years. As the minerals and metals for which the town was known had slowly become scarcer, the workers had been driven to greater depths in attempt to provide for their families, until they went far too deep, and uncovered something that they weren't able to handle.

The miasma was much thicker in the tunnels, diminishing what little visibility the remaining lights provided. Taking advantage of the weakened state of the workers, several monsters and other creatures had also taken up residence in the lower mines. Despite this, the group continued on forward, determined to rescue the few that were still lost in the toxic fog.

"Over here!" They heard a shout in the distance, cut off by an abrupt fit of hacking and coughing. At the source of the cries they found half a dozen men, some already passed out from the poison, others barely hanging onto their remaining strands of consciousness.

Their group immediately scattered, each going to the side of a different man. Only Luke was still clinging to Asch as he ran to the side of the man who had called out.

"Are you all right?" Asch asked as he helped the man sit up.

"I'm fine, but some of the others…"

"We'll take care of them, but first we need to get you out of here."

"There-" The man burst into another fit of coughing. "There are more of my men, still deeper in the tunnels."

"Okay." Asch summoned a group of Kimlascan guards that had followed them down. "You and your men help these people to the surface and see to it they are looked after. The rest of us are going to split up and search for the rest of the workers."

Wait…split up? Asch's idea caught Luke's attention. It was a very bad idea. But before Luke could protest, an Oracle knight came running down the mine.

"Locrian Sergeant Tear Grants?"

"That's me. What is it?"

"Ma'am, we've located the Seventh Fonstone. We request your presence immediately." The soldier reported.

"They've found the Seventh Fonstone?!" Ion inquired incredulously.

"We believe so."

"But-" Tear looked hesitantly back at the group. She still had responsibilities here.

"Go on Tear." Jade offered. "We can handle things here. They need you to verify its authenticity correct?"

"Yes Tear," Ion agreed, "Please go verify if it is indeed the Seventh Fonstone. We'll be fine."

"Alright, do be careful."

"You as well." Asch nodded to her and she immediately left with the Oracle Knight. "Now, we need to cover as much ground as possible. Jade, you-"

"I don't think splitting up is a good idea." Luke interrupted, earning him a silent look from all the others. "I mean, what if one of us needs help?" Luke explained hesitantly. It wasn't entirely a lie…

"Luke, we don't have time to waste!" Anise protested.

"She's right," Asch confirmed, "The longer this takes, the more miasma the workers will inhale, not to mention us. The miasma is especially thick down here; we don't want to be down here any longer than we have to."

"But…!"

"Luke, don't be so worried, you can do this. I know you can."

'Besides, if you run into anything you can't handle, let me know, and I'll come help you. Okay?' The last reassurance resonated in his mind.

"Okay." Luke finally answered.

"Then let's not waste anymore time." Jade said, glaring at Luke out of the corner of his eye.

"Yeah let's get going." Asch agreed, "The sooner we can get everyone to safety, the better."

In that regard, Luke couldn't agree more. As he watched Asch slowly vanish in the thickening miasma, he could only hope that everyone would indeed make it back safely.

--------

Luke found the branch of the tunnel down which he was sent, completely empty. As he pushed forward, the miasma steadily grew thicker until he could scarcely see a few feet in front of him. It was also becoming increasingly difficult to breathe. The miasma was competing for space with the air itself and his chest was starting to hurt as his lungs struggled for every bit of oxygen they could get. He doubted he would get much further before he had to turn back.

Luke was about to give up when he saw a vaguely familiar shadow a few feet ahead of him. Relief washed over him, temporarily brushing his worries aside.

"Master Van!" Certainly he would know what to do.

"Luke! There you are. How are things going with your group?"

"Master Van we have a huge problem!" Luke blurted out.

"Slow down Luke, what has you so worked up?"

"Asch is here!"

"Asch is here?" Master Van replied in shock. "What is Asch doing here?"

"He disobeyed Uncle's orders and came anyways. I tried to stop him, but I didn't know how without telling him the truth, and you said not to say anything-"

"Easy Luke." Van cut off Luke's growing panic. "Asch will be fine as long as he stays away from the passage ring."

"The what?" Luke asked, steadily calming down.

"I'll show you. This is where I'm going to need your help. Will you come with me?"

"Why don't I go get some of the others and we can all help?" Luke suggested.

"No, this is something only you can do."

"Something only I can do?"

"That's right. The only other that could help is Asch, but the Score says that he will fail, taking Akzeriuth with him as he perishes."

"No…" Luke wouldn't accept that. He wanted, more than anything, to protect Asch, and to protect Akzeriuth.

"So will you come help me save these people?"

Just do whatever you can do.

"Okay, you lead the way."

-------

Van led Luke down a ways before branching off into one of the side tunnels. Luke thought they had reached a dead end until Van pointed out a small doorway in the wall. Wait… a doorway in the wall?

There was no door or seal on it, but the opening in the wall was shaped in an arch, and was far too smooth and precise to be a natural occurrence. Luke hesitantly eyed the opening before taking as deep a breath as he still could amidst the miasma, and stepping in.

When Luke first stepped into the room, the first thing he noticed was the air. It was clean, and felt as fresh as the cool morning breeze had been the day he left Baticul. He took a deep breath, and another as his lungs gratefully took in the oxygen of which they had been deprived for several hours now.

The next think Luke noticed, was the fon machines. They were everywhere and Luke needed a moment to let his eyes adjust to the light that had also been lacking in the rest of the mines. Glowing glyphs danced around the room leading Luke's eyes on a roller coaster of swirls and curves as he attempted to follow them. It was as if he had stepped into a completely different world.

"Master Van, what is this place?"

"This is known as a passage ring." Van provided as he began to make his way forward. Luke followed suit as Van continued his explanation. "They are closely guarded by the Order of Lorelei. Didn't Ion ever tell you of them?"

"No, he didn't."

"Well I suppose that's understandable, it is highly confidential information. Though he is allowed to tell those he trusts to keep it a secret. My apologies, I thought perhaps he might have mentioned them to you."

What did Master Van mean? Did Ion not trust him? It was just like with Asch's kidnapping. Why didn't anyone ever tell him the truth? Didn't they trust him with that information?

"So what exactly are we doing down here?" Luke finally asked as he came upon a huge structure at the very bottom. It was huge, and Luke was trying to figure out if it was actually a fon machine, or if it was something else altogether. Regardless, it was unlike anything he had ever seen before.

"This," Van replied motioning towards the large object that had the young noble in awe, "is the cause of the miasma. We should be able to get rid of the miasma from here. That way, we can save both the citizens of Akzeriuth, and the town itself."

"Can we really?" It was more than Luke had dared to hope for. "But how? And how exactly am I going to help?"

"Don't worry about a thing. I'll coach you through it. All you have to do is follow my instructions."

"Alright. So what do you want me to do?"

"First come closer, over here." Van positioned Luke right in front of the huge fon machine.

"Now, I need you to close your eyes and calm down. Can you sense those small bits of energy around you?"

"Yes." Luke replied. Of course he could sense them. There were Seventh Fonons everywhere in this place; the entire room was saturated in them.

"Those are Seventh Fonons. I want you to focus, and gather them. They should answer your call."

Luke did as he was told, and just as they always had, the fonons willingly flocked to him, answering his summons. Luke instinctively found himself raising his hands; he needed somewhere to focus on, somewhere to channel that power.

"Good, good." Van continued, impressed at how well everything was proceeding.

Luke maintained his focus, Asch's careful instructions clear in his mind.

Don't' lose focus. The slightest mistake can be devastating.

It was then that Luke realized exactly what it was Master Van was coaching him through. He had done this countless times with his brother at his side.

Van wanted him to cause a hyperresonance.

--------

"Where's Luke?" Guy inquired looking around the tunnel entrance.

"I don't know, I sent him down the shortest branch, he should have been back a long time ago." Asch replied.

"No luck over here." Anise said as she approached the group.

"We weren't able to spot Luke in the tunnel he was supposed to be down." Ion added, his attention on the other redhead. "Asch?"

But Asch wasn't listening. Focus. Where was Luke? He was having a hard time locating his wayward sibling as he simultaneously fought the growing panic that something had happened to him. Luke had been on edge the entire time they had been here, and seemed especially apprehensive about going down the tunnels on his own. He was so stupid! Why hadn't he paid more attention to Luke? Now who knows what might have happened to him!

But then Asch found him. It was faint, but he was deep in the mines. What was he doing there? He was in a room the likes of which Asch had never seen but-

"Asch? Asch!" Natalia raised her voice in attempts to get her fiancée's attention but to no avail. He was completely zoned out. His eyes were open, but he was staring intently at a small pile of pebbles at Jade's feet, and somehow she doubted that was the object of his sudden intense interest.

"That idiot!" Asch yelled all of a sudden before bolting down the tunnel.

"What the hell?" Guy exclaimed.

"Tear what's the matter?" Anise suddenly asked as she noticed the young Oracle Knight running as fast as she could towards them.

"Something's wrong! It's a trap!"

"What? Slow down, you're not making any sense!" Anise protested.

"There was no Seventh Fonstone. When I went to check, a group of Oracle Knights tried to take me away! Van is up to something! And whatever it is, he doesn't want me caught up in it!"

"Let's head after Asch. He could be in danger." Jade said, wasting no time following Asch's trail, which was quickly growing cold.

"What about Luke?" Tear asked as she followed.

"I suspect that is who he ran after."

"But how would he know where to find Luke?" Natalia inquired.

"We can save that for after they're out of harm's way." Jade cut her off in the most concerned and panicked voice they had ever heard out of him.

"You're right, I'm sorry." Natalia apologized as she focused her energy on not falling behind. They would both be okay. They might need a good stern talking too, but they would both be just fine.

They just had to be.

--------

"Master Van? Just what exactly is it you are trying to get me to do?" Luke inquired. He wanted to be sure that Master Van knew exactly what he was doing, and the consequences that might ensue.

"Don't worry Luke." Van came up behind Luke and gently held Luke's arms up. "You're doing fine. Just keep on going as you are now."

"No." Luke stated. He wouldn't do it. At the back of his mind he could sense a sudden concern and fright from Asch, not to mention the feeling he had in his gut telling him that this wasn't the right thing to do.

"I can't set off a hyperresonance here." Luke stated firmly as he slowly and carefully let the Seventh Fonons dissipate. Letting them all go at once could be as dangerous as setting off the hyperresonance itself. Van let go of his grip on Luke's arms but leaned in as he whispered into the boy's ear.

"A tool like you doesn't have a choice. Foolish replica Luke."

All of a sudden, the seventh fonons around him raced out of control. Those he had allowed to dissipate swarmed back bringing with them far more fonons than Luke could control. It was the same as on the ship to Chesedonia! No! He wouldn't set off a hyperresonance here! He couldn't! The entire city rested on these tunnels! Luke fought with all his might to control the sudden swarm of fonons that was engulfing him. Slowly but steadily, he was gaining ground. He could do this; no, he had to do this.

"Such a fool." Van spat as he backed off from the replica. "You think you can fight your fate. This is the sole purpose for which you were created!"

The words struck Luke like an arrow to the heart. The sole purpose? Was everything Van had told him a lie? His future, his hope, every word of encouragement, and every gentle hand that had helped him back up on his feet; he didn't mean a word of it? The fonons were gaining ground. No! He had to focus!

"You are such a failure." Van continued as he enjoyed watching Luke fight the inevitable battle. Someone like him with no experience in such matters didn't stand a chance. "You want to know the truth replica? You were created for the sole purpose of replacing Asch. But being the miserable failure you are, you couldn't even do that properly. Instead you welcomed him home with open arms. But now, you will fix all that. You will die, along with this Score-forsaken city, and Asch will finally join my side to take revenge on the Score that killed his beloved baby brother." Van finished mockingly.

At those last three words, Luke completely lost what hold he had on the situation. The rage, pain and despair that overtook him drew in even more of the fonons that he was already so desperately tying to keep in check. Alone, he didn't stand a chance. There was a brief moment, a split second that froze in time, where the world around him was silent.

And then it went off.

-----

"Something else to try and remember is your feelings." Asch said as he leaned against the cliff. An exhausted Luke had sat down beside him and was using the same cliff face to sit back against. The sun was just starting to crawl down the sky and the gentle mountain breeze swept through the valley while gently pushing the cotton white clouds across the azure sky.

"My feelings?"

"Yeah. Really powerful feelings like anger and hate, and even sadness have a tendency to draw in more fonons. The same thing can happen if you're excited. Normally something like that isn't a big deal, but that's really all it takes to lose control of a hyperresonance."

"That's kind of scary." Luke said with a nervous chuckle.

"Don't worry, like I said before, as long as you practice, and you maintain your focus, you won't have to worry about it."

"Hey Misters." A young boy said from behind them clutching his runaway ball in his hands. "What are you doing over there?"

"We were just practicing something." Luke replied with a smile. "What are you up to all the way out here?"

Akzeriuth.

Children were running happily in the streets, laughing as Asch playfully chased after them. Luke enthusiastically evaded his brother as well, laughing along with them. The setting sun cast a golden light on them, carefully watching over them all.

No… It can't….

Workers cheerfully walked in and out of the mines, chatting about the day's work and what they would have for supper that night. Gloating about their son or daughter's latest achievement, glowering as a young groom describes the beauty and love he has for his soon to be wife.

It can't…disappear!

Jade chuckling as Anise and Tear stood in shock. Guy yelling at them for switching again as the mining carts continued along their tracks in the background. The city alive with fon machines.

It's going to be gone?

Anise yelling at a mine worker who backed away nervously. His coworkers laughing in the background. The rocks around the tunnel glittering and sparkling in the afternoon sun.

It can't! It won't!

Tear sitting quietly, Jade not far from her side, smiling as she watched the sunset as it faded over the mountains.

But it was. All those bright moments, all those smiling faces, all those dreams and wishes and hopes and opportunities: gone in the blink of an eye. He would never see those children laugh again, he would never quietly watch the sunset with Tear, he would never laugh or smile or play games in Akzeriuth ever again. All the moments he loved were gone forever.

---

The entire cavern began to shake. Rocks fell from the ceiling as it crumbled, fon machines crashed and shattered as the room fell apart. Luke fell to his knees in disbelief of the destruction that lay before him. He had… he had only wanted to help.

"Well done." Van applauded the fool as he turned to leave.

"Van!!" Asch shouted as he dove straight for the commandant, launching himself from the upper level. Van drew his blade and easily fended of Asch's sudden attack sending the boy crashing across the floor and into a pile of debris. Asch crippled under the blow.

"Asch!" Luke screamed in desperation as he tried to reach his brother only to be thrown aside by Van.

"Asch was never supposed to come." Van stated to no one in particular. He snapped his fingers, and almost out of nowhere, two large birds, not unlike the ones Luke had seen Arietta use, appeared at Van's side. One of them gently took Asch in its talons, while Van quickly mounted the second.

"I can't have you dying here," Van looked down at the unconscious redhead, safely secured in the grip of the other bird. "That's what the tool was for." He stated with one last look down at Luke. "This is farewell then, replica. I wish you a quick demise."

Then Van and Asch were gone.

Luke sank down to the floor, the pain and harsh reality slowly creeping its way through his shell-shocked mind. He had nothing. He was nothing. He had been used and thrown away and Luke could no longer hold back the tears that leaked down his face.

Everything, and everyone he had wanted to protect…was gone.